Apparently Texas oil tycoon, T. Boone Pickens, who funded the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" propaganda campaign against John Kerry in 2004 to the tune of $3 million, seems, like the group themselves, to have trouble with the definition of the word "truth".

Earlier this month, at a DC dinner celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Rightwing publication American Spectator, Pickens made a very public challenge (not a bet), offering, as the Republicanist blog, American Thinker reported, "a million dollars to anyone who could prove wrong anything the Swiftboat Veterans charged about Kerry."

The similarly Rightwing blog RedState echoed that the challenge was made to anybody who "can prove anything the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth said in 2004 was false."

But it looks like Pickens was lying, as he is now trying to renege on the challenge since Kerry himself decided to take him up on it late last week, writing in a letter to Pickens (posted in full at the end of this article): "While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt."

Kerry said that the $1 million should then be given to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, concluding his letter with: "I trust that you are a man of your word, having made a very public challenge at a major Washington dinner, and look forward to taking you up on this challenge."

Pickens, however --- wait for it --- has proven to be less than a man of his word. Who'd have thunk it? Rather than accept Kerry's offer to meet the challenge, he's moved the goal posts and Fox "News" Network stooge, Sean Hannity --- no man of honor either --- is entirely scummy enough to aide and abet Pickens in welching out of the challenge...

Writing back to Kerry (letter also in full below), Pickens said:

In order to disprove the accuracy of the Swift Boat ads, I will ultimately need you to provide the following:

The journal you maintained during your service in Vietnam.

Your military record, specifically your service records for the years 1971-1978, and copies of all movies and tapes made during your service.

When you have done so, if you can then prove anything in the ads was materially untrue, I will gladly award $1 million.

Of course, in his actual challenge, as reported by the two Republicanist blogsites, Pickens said nothing of disproving accuracy "of the Swift Boat ads", nor of providing some form of additional documentation as part of the challenge by the lying loser Pickens. Neither of those two wingnut sites has reported on the incident since the original challenge. Go figure.

Yesterday, Pickens agreed to appear on Hannity and Colmes, as long as he would be allowed to appear alone, according to a source from Kerry's online communications team. Note in the video below, how hard Hannity underscores the phony premise that that the challenge concerned false info by the Swiftboaters "in their ads" only, despite that never having been a part of the challenge. Also note how both the despicable Pickens and Hannity have teamed up to reconstruct the challenge to make it into a "bet", wherein Kerry is supposed to offer up his own $1 million dollars should he "lose"...

And these fraudulent "Support the Troops" punks, like Hannity and Pickens, said that Kerry --- a Vietnam War hero and the recipient of both a Silver Star and multiple Purple Hearts --- was "unfit for command"?! These guys are a disgrace to America. The very worst we have to offer. But there's no breaking news here in that regard.

The effort, Kerry's team suggests, is all in hopes of re-habbing the team's credibility in advance of the '08 election where they will undoubtedly unleash the same folks, for a similarly shameful and unAmerican enterprise, in hopes of swiftboating whomever the Dem nominee happens to be. Call it their "No Liar Left Behind" campaign.

Kerry's original response letter to the cowardly Pickens' challenge, Pickens goal-post moving reply to it, and then Kerry's reply in turn to Pickens, are all posted in full below...

T.Boone Pickens
8117 Preston Rd
Dallas TX 75225

Mr. Pickens,

It has come to my attention through the accounts of individuals who were in attendance at the American Spectator's Robert L. Bartley Dinner & 40th Anniversary Gala as well as through the public accounts, that you personally "staked one million dollars" that "no one" could "prove anything the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth said in 2004 was false" (RedState.Com) and offered "a million dollars to anyone who could prove wrong anything the Swiftboat Veterans charged about Kerry." (AmericanThinker.com)

I welcome the opportunity to prove that you are a man of your word and that the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" lied. While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt.

I would request that your check be made payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America which is doing incredible work every day to meet the needs of veterans returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan. My hope is that by sending this money to such a dedicated organization – founded for veterans, by veterans – some good can come out of the ugly smears and lies of the orchestrated campaign you bankrolled in 2004 in an attempt to discredit my military record and the record of the men who served alongside me on the Swift Boats of the Mekong Delta.

I would be more than happy to travel to Dallas to meet with you in a mutually agreed upon public forum, or would invite you to join me in Massachusetts for a public dialogue and then together we could visit the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Norwood and see firsthand how we can put your money to good work for our veterans.

I look forward to setting up a visit at the earliest possible, mutually convenient time. I trust that you are a man of your word, having made a very public challenge at a major Washington dinner, and look forward to taking you up on this challenge.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator

Pickens responds/reneges on Nov. 16th...

U.S. Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Building
Third Floor
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Kerry:

So glad to hear from you regarding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth political ad campaign, and an offer I made public at an American Spectator dinner in Washington, D.C. last week. I am intrigued by your letter, and am certainly open to your challenge.

My concern at the Spectator Dinner was, and continues to be, that you and other political figures were and are maligning the Swift Boat Veterans, and I want to prevent this important part of American history from being unfairly portrayed.

In order to disprove the accuracy of the Swift Boat ads, I will ultimately need you to provide the following:

The journal you maintained during your service in Vietnam.

Your military record, specifically your service records for the years 1971-1978, and copies of all movies and tapes made during your service.

When you have done so, if you can then prove anything in the ads was materially untrue, I will gladly award $1 million. As you know, I have been a long and proud supporter of the American military and veterans' causes. I now challenge you to make this commitment: If you cannot prove anything in the Swift Boat ads to be untrue, that you will make a $1 million gift to the charity I am choosing --- the Medal of Honor Foundation.

I’m grateful that you are prepared to make good on your word and fulfill the offer you made publicly at the American Spectator Dinner in Washington, D.C. on November 6th.

I must remind you, however, that this was and is your “challenge,” not mine. You are, after all, the one who said explicitly at the dinner — in a way that was calculated to challenge any naysayer — that you would give one million dollars “to anyone who could show that anything the SBVT said was false.” (RedState.Com) These were your words — and nowhere did you ever suggest, as you are now trying to, that your challenge referred specifically and exclusively to any advertising by the SBVT.

As you know, the lies of the SBVT were not confined just to their ads; they were a constant barrage of television, radio, Internet, speeches, and forums in which — significantly bankrolled by you — they launched and repeated lie after lie. Your challenge expressly stood behind all of their allegations.

It is disturbing that in reaffirming the challenge you issued, your parsing and backtracking seems eerily reminiscent of the entire approach of the SBVT — say one thing, put out an allegation, then duck and weave, hedge and bob when your words catch up with you. I want to believe that this was not your intent because I am told that you are a man of your word, not “all hat and no cattle.”

Honor and duty, which you purport to defend, demand that you not selectively back away from your original challenge. Your offer clearly said — boldly, unequivocally — to an audience of your friends and supporters — that you would give “a million dollars to anyone who could prove wrong anything the Swiftboat Veterans charged about Kerry.” (AmericanThinker.com) In my letter, that is the offer which I accepted.

I was interested to read in your response that you don’t want to see the SBVT “maligned,” and that you aim “to prevent this important part of American history from being unfairly portrayed.” I accepted your offer precisely because I want to prevent the honorable records of the courageous men who served with me from being maligned by the repeated lies of this organization. I want to see the word “Swiftboat” restored to its original meaning — synonymous with honorable service to country, not political lies aimed to distort and divide. I would hope that your interests should also be in protecting the record of all those who served our country.

As I’ve said to you before, I am prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence, the question is whether you are prepared to fulfill your obligation — no variations, no back pedaling, no retreat, no new bets, no changing the subject.

The only thing remaining now is to set the date for our meeting in an appropriate forum, after which I look forward to you keeping your word and writing a check for one million dollars payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America so that we can put your money to good work for veterans who have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Remember when there was no illegal immigration from 2000->2006 when the Republicans controlled everything? And all the 13 million illegal immigrants came over here this year 2007? Of course you don't! Because it's the new GOP swiftboat issue for the 2008 election! Everyone's wise to gay marriage, flag burning, etc...now the GOP fabricates the "illegal immigration issue" which has been a problem for over 100 years!

BD #3, Of course they pick a topic that they'll absolutely do nothing about when elected, cheap labor is their M.O.
They also figured out they can use this to stifle the Latino vote this year too by backlogging registrations

The Department of Homeland Security failed to prepare for a massive influx of applications for U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits this summer, prompting complaints from Hispanic leaders and voter-mobilization groups that several hundred thousand people may not be granted citizenship in time to cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election.

Hannity will say anything. I heard him say on his radio show only a few days after the Democratic nominating convention, that nobody who served with Kerry would stand up with him. Of course, Kerry actually had many, if not all of the people who were on his boat with him at the convention--they all stood up for him. The swift-boaters who "served with him" were simply "in the service" at the same time and so only in that sense "with" him.

A caller called in, and said that he had heard that Kerry had shot and killed women and children in Vietnam. Hannity of course said, "yes he did!--he admitted that" or words to that effect, without ever correcting the caller that the shooter of civilians was senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, not candidate for President John Kerry. Anything--no matter how distorted, is "truth" for Hannity, so long as it serves his political agenda. Anyone who is not a complete idiot cannot watch the show, or listen to the radio show without feeling filthy.

Talk about spinning the truth he only wants Kerry to release his service records and prove that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth lied which Kerry can't. You wonder why we conservatives think you liberals drink nothing but kool-aid!!!!!

In the meantime, Kerry has already released his service records. Did you miss that part?

Beyond that, Pickens made a specific challenge, Kerry accepted, Pickens reneged. Which part of "conservative" or honorable do you have trouble understanding?

Apparently, moral values --- such as honor --- do not exist for your phony conservatives. If they did, you'd obviously stand up and call Pickens out for his lie. Or you can just continuing to support his worse-than-Clintonian parsing.

surely they have no chance next year...I can't believe it is even a race...if you were to list every scandal, lie, distortion and criminal act republicans have been caught on over the past 2 years right here on this forum the website would crash because there probably isn't enough bandwith to contain it all.
What worries me is you still see that the democratic front runners are still scared of the big mean bullies.
I can't believe Hillary let herself get knocked so hard by the non issue of here answer about the non issue of illegal immigrants. is anyone on the left going to just say out loud "illegal immigration is not an important issue right now. this is another right wing non event aimed to take focus of the fact that right now the country is in dire need of new leadership to try and guide us away from the complete disaster we face as a nation due to the policies implemented by a incompetent administration that has lead us into a war we can't afford financially and morally. illegal immigration is this years gay marriage. really not important while our troops are dying needlessly."

sorry for the rant but it occured to me that their is a presidential race going on and the the republicans still have a chance when they really shouldn't even be in the race.

and as for iraq "turning the corner" deaths are down the past few months sure...but 2007 has been the dealiest year since the war began. don't let them forget that.

sorry for the rant......in a bad mood and this pickens story angers me greatly

For goodness sakes ... what is all this sudden leftist indignation about "lying"?

{Ed Note: A big long passage lifted from this piece on Bill Clinton's lies at What Really Happened dot Com was here... very informative... but please read the commenting policy, Rick. Thank you. --99}

Where was the indignation from the left?

So what's with the selective memory, double standards, and one-sided analysis of things by the liberals?

What's with all the one-sided, partisan analysis and commentary here, Mr. Brad, being presented as "truth"?

Yeah, many of the kool aid drinkers will undoubtedly fall back on the "You right wingers just can't shut up about Clinton" line .... or the "That doesn't count anymore" excuse ... or some such similar 'weasel out' phrase ... when in fact, a lie ... is a lie ... is a lie .. and the ones I listed above were plain, simple out-and-out lies, which drrew practically ZERO comment from anyone in the media, and no condemnation from the left. .

'you guys' are worried about what Hannity, an ENTERTAINER says ... but not about what 'your' president said ... or more importantly, not worried about what his spouse is now saying, in her efforts to get the White House back in '08? Why not analyze Hillary's flip flops and lies, in this campaign season approaching us? Why not something that would actually be a service to someone, rather than these pedestrian level sandbox emotional outbursts?

Just wondering ..... not even dreaming of changing anyone's 'mind', but hoping someone will have the integrity to comment honestly.

rick, don't sweat the small stuff, pal... What's a few trillion dollars stolen from the American peoples and a few trillion of wealth shifted to the top 1% not to mention a few million innocent folks killed, maimed and murdered . . . . . Between friends . . .

Personally I like grape kool aid (w)sugar. As for the Circus Freak Show the republikkkan's call candidates the only things missing are the bearded lady and Siamese twins ... at least the gop would have some diversity... Now if you want to get serviced call for an escort.
If your mind hasn't changed by now ... don't worry it probably wont.

No Mark, that time came and went about 3 years ago. Kerry is part of the system & part of the problem.

LOL even 10X louder at Rick:
"So what's with the selective memory, double standards, and one-sided analysis of things by the liberals?"

OMFG - are you that f'ing braindead from american culture that you can't distinguish between one lie about a blow job and countless the lies that have led to the deaths of millions of innocents; not to mention the financial and moral bankrupting of the USA (torture ok with you? oh yeah, you're still hung up on one blow job), and quite possibly the end of life as we know it (sadly no exaggeration). George piddled while the world burned. And rick is there to cheer him on. bravo, rick. bravo.

OMFG - are you that f'ing braindead from american culture that you can't distinguish between one lie about a blow job and countless the lies that have led to the deaths of millions of innocents;

Personally I like grape kool aid (w)sugar. As for the Circus Freak Show the republikkkan's call candidates the only things missing are the bearded lady and Siamese twins ... at least the gop would have some diversity... Now if you want to get serviced call for an escort.

If your mind hasn't changed by now ... don't worry it probably wont.

Thanks, guys, for the absolutely stimulating intellectual exchange, well-thought-out presentation of facts, and most of all, the time you obviously put into formulating your responses in such a manner so as to present your views in a positive light!

Where, exactly, is the thing Kerry has proven wrong? I read that he has proven something they said wrong, but I never quite get to a bullet-pointed or numbered list of X, Y, Z. Perhaps it's buried somewhere, but I don't see it. It seems to me Kerry should point out: X was a lie. I hardly think it's fair to call Mr. Pickens troop-hating. After all, he supported troops, namely the swift boat vets who --- whatever you think of them --- are veterans every bit as much as Mr. Kerry. Likewise, I don't recall Mr. Pickens ever going before Congress and accusing our troops of heinous war crimes.

'you guys' are worried about what Hannity, an ENTERTAINER says ... but not about what 'your' president said ...

By "'your' president" I'll assume you're speaking about Bill Clinton? For the record, didn't vote for him, never would. Why? Because he was a liar. But that's just my own personal opinion.

You, however, seem to be aware of facts that I am not. Like how I feel about things, that I am partisan, etc. etc. No more proof needed for any of those things, than for Bush lying about WMD in Iraq and killing thousands of your fellow citizens.

Not sure how many deaths Clinton's lies caused, but I guess such common sense points are of little interest to you.

Or are you saying that you're now okay with Clinton's lies because Bush, Cheney, Rumseld, Gonzalez, Pickens, Hannity (an "entertainer"?!), etc. etc. are also liars.

Brad - Honestly didn't mean to violate your rules of posting here. I admit they are pretty generous. Thought I could fit it in under the 'part and parcel' exception.

What's with the "silly" comment though? You try to attack the messenger, instead of the message, maybe?

Are you seriously trying to say you aren't partisan? Give me a break, my friend.

Have you forgotten? Radical muslims killed thousands of my fellow citizens, Brad, on 9/11 .... and the 'war' we are in is against radical islamic terrorists and muslims who'd kill you or I in a heartbeat, and destroy this nation. Until you grasp that 'fact', you'll continue to 'war' against any fellow American who douses the sparks that give rise to the acrid smokescreen being created by the extreme leftists here at home .... who prefer to spout off against things American rather than against the real enemy.

And just for the record ... how many deaths did Clinton's lies cause? Is that the new standard as to what is a lie and what isn't? Causing deaths? Don't leave out the one where he stated he agreed with Bush, for going into Iraq ... which he now has changed, of course, to say he disagreed all along. You were aware of that comment, right? Since Clinton agreed is he responsible for anything in Iraq? Is Clinton responsible for 9/11, since he refused to act against Bin Laden when he had the chance? Maybe Clinton is the one responsible for the whole big mess ...

Still on the "Bush lied" bandwagon huh? Still upset about the 2000 election, too, I'd wager ... Maybe you should take your own advice about realizing we are at war, here. and .. BTW ... Did I just overlook the commentary here about the positive events in Iraq recently? About the reduction in civilian casualties? The fantastic decreases in attacks against our guys and gals serving over there? The returning of refugees? The change of heart by even such "anti-Bush" figures as even John "Abscam" Murtha?
Oh, yeah, he was never indicted, was he? And after all, it's only wrong if you're caught, eh?

Silly? Nah ... a bit crazy perhaps, but not 'silly'. And certainly still sufficiently alert and aware to know where our attention should be focused, and against whom the war really is ... or should be.

Regards

Silly Rick

Oh, yeah, how about that particularly astute and superbly composed post above from JOJ ? Now there's someone with a genuine grasp of the facts.